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Back in September of 2013, Kevin Witt wrote this blog on the topic of "Grace". I found it very helpful. We have shared some of Kevin's writings before. Learn more about him below. Thanks Kevin for your permission to run this article.

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Grace is God’s constant loving presence in our lives actively engaged for the good of all. The Wesleyan spiritual tradition offers three helpful windows into the nature of grace all of which were integral aspects of what inspired and motivated me as a camper and a growing leader.

Preceding Grace (Prevenient Grace) focuses on the way God showers us with love in many forms and actively works on behalf of our greatest good before we fully recognize that God is involved, before we fully embrace God in various aspects of our lives, and before we have an abiding trust in God’s love as the foundation for our decisions, priorities and actions. God is present and drawing near to us. The wideness of this love recognizes that no one is outside the care of God. We are called to honor the divine spark within ourselves and each person, which draws us all to our Creator.

We never withhold our love and respect until we feel others have earned it, recognized it, or until someone fully conforms to our expectations or theological understandings, because God does not withhold grace. God loves us first (prevenient means “comes before”) and so we love as a natural response to being loved. Without a doubt, such a level of acceptance and genuine concern for the good of individuals and the good of all is healing and helps persons experience and identify God’s companionship in their lives.

Accepting Grace (Justifying Grace) is the love of God assuring us that all this is a gift. Our oneness with God and God’s love for us is not something that depends upon our ability to do the good and right without fail. Once we recognize the nature of God’s love for us and the world, we begin to understand who we are meant to be and what will give our life its greatest joy and purpose. We can feel a deep separation from God, however, if we base our relationship with God on our own ability to live flawlessly.

If we make an honest assessment of our lives, we see that we have sometimes done and do things that cause harm to ourselves and to others either by our action or inaction. We have not always been attentive to loving God either. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ speaks definitively about God’s answer in the face of this reality. Accepting Grace involves our acceptance of God’s acceptance of us, which is a generous, forgiving love. As teachers and leaders, part of our role is to build people’s faith, trust and confidence in this enormous love and to invite them to embrace God who embraces them as they navigate the ups and downs of life. As leaders it is our privilege to also extend Accepting Grace to those in our groups on behalf of God and to encourage them to do the same for each other.

Transforming Grace (Sanctifying Grace) is God’s loving empowerment and involvement in our lives that enables us to grow more like Christ. Christian discipleship involves many transformations of thought and action. Sanctifying grace invites us to open ourselves to be shaped by God so the sacredness of a life of love can infiltrate our way of being. This is a life-long process. In contrast to the attempt to be a good person to prove our worth or our ability, we are moved by the Spirit to love out of joy, thankfulness and recognition that we are already cherished in the heart of God, as are all human beings and the entire creation.

Loving God, loving ourselves, and loving the world emanates from grateful hearts. Teachers and leaders can enhance this process by encouraging people to engage in what John Wesley called “Acts of Piety” and “Acts of Mercy”. Acts of Piety are the habits and practices we incorporate regularly into our lives to help us draw closer and to stay in love with God. Acts of Mercy include following Christ in a life of doing good and avoiding harm while inviting others to join in. A servant’s heart, sacrifice and a reordering of priorities are inevitable when following Christ. Such is a life of grace.

We have a unique and special mission as Christian camp and retreat ministries, which is amazing and beautiful. It is our privilege and priority to nurture people as disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. This is our gift within the overall spectrum of camps and retreats available out there. If we forget our primary purpose and reason for being, in many ways we become redundant, unnecessary since other types of camps and retreat experiences are already offered. I think our greatest strength and contribution to the society, not just the Church, hinges on living deeply in our Christian identity. We may learn from others and expand the type of activities and services we provide, but it is crucially important not to simply mimic other types of camps and retreat centers and thus become generic.

Watering down our purpose to the point where our camp and retreat focus and programs become virtually indistinguishable from other types of camps creates serious difficulties long-term. Kenda Creasy Dean – Professor of Youth, Church and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary – lifts up the essential importance of being inextricably immersed in the grace of God. Without this, what we do may have the appearance of Christianity but not the power to transform lives or to inspire life-long Christian discipleship. A hesitancy to actually do what Jesus did often produces a drift into a spectator spirituality focused on meeting our own satisfaction and interests alone, rather than being profoundly shaped by the love of God, the love of others, and a more mature form of self-love. It is the grace of God that transforms us and supplies us inspiration to pursue a meaningful life distinctly different from what a consumer mindset would produce.

Unfortunately, a shallower experience of Christianity is proving to have a widespread impact based on the extensive National Study of Youth and Religion which Kenda Creasy Dean references in her book – “Almost Christian.” This book provides an eye opening look for leaders and parents. Many young people fail to observe adults around them being truly guided by and transformed by a relationship with God that actually moves them to take risks to live out their Christian faith. For a growing number of youth and young adults religion is becoming inconsequential as a result. It is distressingly true even among a significant number who are actively involved in local churches and extension ministries of the church. This can change, but only if we are very intentional to hone the experiences we offer to align with our core mission.

Making disciples for the transformation of the world is a grace full undertaking. I think our camp staff and volunteers will be much more inspired if they can catch a vision of this great movement of God that they are a part of.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Questions to think about:

1. How might you begin to build a culture of gratitude and grace?

2. Which of the three dimensions of grace (preceding, accepting and transforming) is your strength and which do you need to expand so that your guests and participants can more fully experience the fullness of God’s grace?

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Rev. Kevin Witt, Certified Camp Director, is the moderator and a primary contributor to the blog (http://camp-retreat-ministry.org/). He has extensive personal and professional experience within camp and retreat ministry. Kevin currently serves with the Leadership Ministries Division of the GBOD.

He provides workshops, seminars and consultations on many aspects of camp and retreat ministry and serves on planning teams for national trainings and certification studies.

Kevin has developed many other resources and coordinates a very active Camp and Retreat Leader Network (CRLN) where over 1,000 leaders of faith based camp and retreat ministry share beneficial information and mutual support.

This is a reprint from an earlier blog post we ran back in 2011. If follows the theme of the last blog by Kevin Witt. We hope you find it meaningful. Personal retreats are special times of growth. Plan a time for yourself soon either at the Life Enrichment Retreat Center in Florida or another special place you choose. Thank you for following LEC and our blog. Let us know if you want a certain topic covered in the future.

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Back in the 1980’s I had the pleasure of serving a church in Northeastern Indiana. This small church, surrounded by farm land just outside Ashley, Indiana, was a family church with wonderful folks who were committed to family and to this church – The Pleasant Chapel Church of the Brethren. I could say a lot about the church and the people, but my purpose here is to write about their support for the then young pastor.

With the limited resources of a small country church, they did what they could to support my family, my leadership, and my personal spiritual growth. One way they did that was to encourage me to go on retreat 3-4 times a year. On these times I would pack up my little Ford Escort with some books and a Bible, plus plenty of writing materials (no laptops or pads to take in those days), and I drove to Three Rivers, Michigan. My destination was a silent retreat facility that to this day is truly holy ground for me; The Hermitage.

Everyone handles days of silence differently. This is not something that works for everyone. For me, it was a much needed rest and a Sabbath time for reading, prayer and reflection. But the first day was always the same. I would get to my room and rest on the bed and fall asleep. When I arrived at the retreat center, I would realize how tired I was, and at first, I would fight the sleep. As the retreat times continued, the gentleman who was my spiritual director at the Hermitage encouraged me to let the sleep happen. So for a couple of hours I would sleep. Refreshed after my rest, I would then take walks on the wooded paths, sit outside and read or write, and pray. I would also spend a bit of time doing some planning for the church.

I spent two to three days there each time. I always came back renewed and rested, physically and spiritually. I will always look back to that place and those retreats as a key time in my spiritual journey. Ministries like the Hermitage are vital, and in today's “connected” world we should try to “retreat” even more. A reminder for me, and an encouragement for you.

Continue your Journey with Christ!!

Jess Schload, Director

Notes:

1. Other items on our website that may interest you on this topic include:

It is a joy today to share a post from the blog of Kevin Witt (used with permission). His blog can be found at http://camp-retreat-ministry.org/. More information about him can be found below.

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You are all in my heart as summer moves into full swing and you enter that familiar surge to complete the plethora of preparations necessary to welcome and care for those who are coming. Lives will be touched and transformed through you and your efforts as you walk with God this summer. You are disciples of Christ – people of love – servant leaders. May you be encouraged by the deep meaning within all your doing. I am so thankful to be colleagues in ministry together.

As persons who give so much of yourselves, I want to remind you of a very special gift from God to you – one deeply rooted in a gift to the whole creation – the Gift of Pause.

We live in a society that highly values taking action and contributing. Undoubtedly, we find resonance with this in Christian teachings.

James 2:14-17 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? … faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

Titus 3:8 The saying is sure. I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Can I be honest? Though we are made for good works, good works cannot sustain us.

I once served as the director of a camp and retreat center where I never felt more called or centered. The ministry grew steadily and we had a wonderful team. Lives changed because of God’s presence and the deep impact of the shared experiences. It was exciting and gratifying to invest myself wholeheartedly because I felt privileged to be there. The opportunity to be a part of something that really mattered inspired and energized me.

Despite all this and my genuine desire to be faithful, I ended up depleted, heartbroken due to the realization that I needed to leave this place that meant so much to me. The joy and sense of call that initially came so easily submerged into a sense of constant pressure to get things done. It went beyond what my spirit and body could recover from. Part of the growth in that situation involved coming to grips with the fact that, to a large degree, the outcome was self-inflicted. It called into question the essence of my understanding of Christian discipleship and spiritual leadership . Accolades that come with unceasing effort though well intended are not the same as wisdom. I excelled at going “full steam” but not “full circle” in my faith and leadership.

Today, I have a much deeper appreciation for the rhythms of life that our Creator and Sustainer has so graciously woven into the fabric of existence, which were also modeled by Jesus. Completeness, wholeness and fulfillment never proceeds from totally jamming our time with unending goals and tasks. As strange as it may sound to our modern ears, it is also sacred to cease from creating, to abstain from advancing, and to brave a break. It is just as holy to stop doing good works sometimes as it is to do good works. This is the sacred tempo of Sabbath, which is a divine gift available to us daily, weekly and annually.

Genesis 2:2-3 And on the seventh day God finished the work that God had done, and rested on the seventh day from all the work. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all the work of creation.

Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work… For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it.

Matthew 11: 28-29: Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Mark 6:30-31: The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

One of the most insightful books I have ever read on the gift of Sabbath and the power of pause is How Firm a Foundationby Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein (Paraclete Press: Brewster, Massachusetts, 1997) ISBN 1557251894

1. Sabbath allows us to be fully present. It certainly provides a time of rest and renewal, but its primary benefit is not to simply recharge us so we can just go work again. Sabbath time is a highlight – coming full circle – fulfillment – celebration, rather than just a step toward something else. Sabbath allows us to appreciate the now by taking a break from planning, creating and worrying so we can truly receive and reflect on how beautiful life already is. In pausing we can recognize the goodness that is all around us and available now. Sabbath inspires thankfulness and abiding joy.

2. Sabbath frees us. From a Jewish perspective, we must understand the history of being enslaved that is a major theme in the scriptures. A regular rhythm of pause prevents us from returning to a self imposed slavery, which God has freed us from. God desires us to be free not driven. Sabbath is part of loving ourselves – an act of discipleship as much as loving our neighbor.

3. Sabbath draws us to God. Sabbath actually strengthens faith – trust in God. It helps us to more fully recognize that it is God who sustains life not us. Our constant effort does not make the world go round. Stopping draws us to our source and to the love of God for us from the birth of time.

So much more could be said, but I can’t say it any better than Abraham Heschel.

“Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy”

Be Good To Yourselves:

Kevin

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Questions to Ponder:

1. People come to camp and on retreat to grow in their faith and their relationship with God. How would this be enhanced if the camp and retreat center staff and volunteers actually implement a consistent spiritual “Practice of Pause” that we are trying to provide for those who come?

2. How could you collaborate as a ministry team to schedule responsibilities, so all, including yourself, can have the opportunity to receive the Gift of Pause on a daily, weekly and seasonal basis that is seen as an important dimension of spiritual leadership and wholeness?

Need a personal time away? LEC is happy to give you a place to get away. More info atPersonal Retreats

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Rev. Kevin Witt, Certified Camp Director, is the moderator and a primary contributor to the blog (http://camp-retreat-ministry.org/). He has extensive personal and professional experience within camp and retreat ministry. Kevin currently serves with the Leadership Ministries Division of the GBOD.

He provides workshops, seminars and consultations on many aspects of camp and retreat ministry and serves on planning teams for national trainings and certification studies.

Kevin has developed many other resources and coordinates a very active Camp and Retreat Leader Network (CRLN) where over 1,000 leaders of faith based camp and retreat ministry share beneficial information and mutual support.

The open and affectionate atmosphere of a marriage retreat is a powerful way to discuss, share and reinvigorate the spirit of marriage. The re-experience of old memories, along with the creation of new ones provides couples an everlasting platform to affirm their commitment. Activities will promote closeness between partners as well as individual guidance and community values. Consider the following ideas to ensure a meaningful and fulfilling marriage enrichment retreat.

One of the first activities should be an icebreaker, as it’s important for couples to introduce themselves to one another. Though the primary focus may be within the relationship, friendly communication between couples will encourage insightful discussion and promote a positive, open atmosphere.

Have couples mingle and join with another pair. Prepare a set of questions for them to ask:How long have you been married? How many kids do you have? Where did you go on your honeymoon? What activity do you enjoy doing together that didn’t expect? Once all the questions have been exchanged, have the opposite couple introduce them to the group.

For overnight marriage retreats, furnish the guests’ rooms with roses and chocolate. Place a pair of “For Him” and “For Her” letters on the bed. In “His” envelope, include a plastic engagement ring with instructions to “propose again” at his time of choosing. In “Her” envelope, include parchment with instructions to write a playful love letter. Recalling past experiences of love is a way to intensify current feelings of passion and affection.

When it comes to the activities, you should aim to bring partners closer while also encouraging friendships between couples and promoting values of love and commitment. Some activities should be aimed towards fun while others should be insightful. For theMatching Questions game, print a questionnaire for each guest about his or her relationship:Where and when was your first kiss? First date? What’s his and her favorite food? Favorite song? Favorite movie? Have men and women separate to write their answers. Then have them reconvene and compare responses. The couple with the most matches wins a prize.

While the men and women are separated, consider propagating a discussion. Surrounded by peers, men and women can share stories, advice and lessons learned about marriage. Designate a discussion leader to keep conversation active. For religious retreats, this is a great opportunity to relate the spiritual tenants to one’s married life.

Bring the men and women back together for the discussion conclusion. It may be a good idea to prepare a speaker who can share insight and/or anecdotes about the importance of love and commitment. Follow it up with a delicious dinner where guests are encouraged to continue meeting new couples.

Passing out goodie bags is a great way to wrap up the activities. It provides a positive conclusion while encouraging guests to act on reaffirmations or realizations made on the retreat. For example, decorated notepads and pens can inspire couples to write loving messages at home. Travel soap and shampoo are a gesture to plan a romantic trip in the future. Other ideas for goodies include chocolates, body lotion, candles and bath minerals. For Christian marriage retreats, pair the gifts with relevant scriptures. Couples will be encouraged to indulge in loving affection long after the retreat is over.

Planning a retreat? Here is your chance to be a hero! The more you plan in advance, the more organized you will be, and the overall outcome will be higher quality.

Most companies and organizations will not simply hand over money for you to host a retreat – even if they asked you to plan it. Your company will want to know rough budget estimates and details about your event. Even if you are in charge of your own budget, it is still helpful to take the step of preparing a basic plan to organize and save your thoughts. So let's get started!

Your plan should include at least 4 things: a summary, a goal, the audience, and the budget.

1. Summarize the Event

Your summary is a basic snapshot of your retreat in 3 sentences or less. With no additional information, anyone that reads your plan should be able to understand what the event is from a high-level perspective. It is appropriate to include a basic goal in this summary. For example:

This leadership retreat will bring together the leaders of (fill in the blank) company/church/university for program and budget planning for the next year.

2. Determine a Timeline

When is this retreat? Are you planning it in the winter or in the spring? Include the target time frame of the event, the promotion period, and any other important milestones. Make sure you understand the timing of your participants. How much lead time do they need? Tip: start from the end (the retreat date) and work backwards. For example:

Retreat planning: Jan.-May

Website page created: March 1

Promotion: March-June

Retreat Date: mid-June

3. Set a Goal (or two or three)

All retreats should have at least one simple goal. Are you planning a retreat on behalf of a business, university, or other organization? If so, consider the mission of the organization and create a goal that aligns with this mission. Goals can be high-level, or they can be very specific. Set enough goals that someone reading your plan can start to picture your retreat. For example:

3 days

20+ participants

Overnight accommodations at a camp retreat center

Team-building activities

Completed program plans and budget for next year

Enhance leadership skills

Promote togetherness and a sense of community

4. Define Your Audience

First, ask yourself these questions: Who are you inviting to your retreat? Are they males and females? Adults only, or are children invited? Next, dig a little deeper into your audience. What do your attendees care about? What are they interested in? This does not dictate who is allowed to come. Rather, it outlines the group for which the retreat is intended. Doing this small brainstorm and jotting down a few notes will help you later as you plan activities and promote the event. For example:

Males and females

35-55 years old

Doctors, CEOs, administrative professionals, team leaders

Many have children

Volunteers

Live in _____ city/state/neighborhood

5. Propose a Budget

Money is a big factor for most retreats. Research and compile estimates for the larger cost categories. The costs should be realistic – not too high, and not too low. If they are too high, you might not get approved. Too low? You might be stuck with a penny-saver budget.

Your venue will be one of your larger expenses. A four-star retreat center will require a much higher budget than a camp retreat center. Be sure to include an estimate for overnight accommodations and meeting space. Other large budget items to consider include: travel and transportation; food and beverage; and marketing and promotion.

Also, be sure to subtract the estimated cost per person in your budget to show how costs will be offset. If the goal of the retreat is to raise money, include estimated earnings from fundraising activities, which could be a silent auction, offering, etc.

Your retreat plan should be able to fit on 1-2 pages.

Now that you have finished creating your retreat plan, you have a nice guide to use moving forward. The items that you have already identified should help you get budget approval, provide direction on event promotion, help you choose a retreat theme, and overall, organize your thoughts. Having your plan ready also helps the retreat center - the staff can better support the goals of the retreat. Often they have ideas about ways to use the facility that you never would have known.

Many years ago, I worked at a newspaper. I was not a reporter, but a photographer. As such, I worked daily with the news staff as they collected stories. I can clearly remember, as they interviewed folks for the story, how they would check themselves to make sure they answered the key questions all news articles need to answer. Then, after writing the piece, they would again scan the article for the same reason. “Did I answer the key questions?”

I am sure you heard this before. The five key questions that reporters ask in one way or another to complete a news story are simple:

Who?

What?

When?

Where?

Why?

These are vital questions to make sure you answer if you are writing an article for the church newsletter, planning a party, and planning a retreat. I am amazed how many times I am discussing retreat plans with a potential group leader, and it is clear they did not consider all these questions. If you are thinking of doing a retreat or conference for your church or organization, you can help your planning, marketing, and execution of the event by taking time early to answer these simple but very important questions. The following is some of what you should consider for each question:

Who? Who is this retreat intended to serve? How will we let them know this is happening? How many will there be? Is there anyone else this retreat might benefit?

What? What is the theme of this event? What is its purpose? What do we need to do to make this happen? What materials will we use or guest speaker will we invite? What will it cost to pull this retreat off?

When? When will we do this? How far out should we plan? Are there conflicts on the church calendar? Any holidays we need to consider? How many nights?

Where? This is the easy one – The Life Enrichment Center!! OK, you may not be able to come here, and if not, consider the location. Perhaps it should be at the church, a retreat center, another local venue or maybe at a church in another town. We need to call and get a date reserved. We need the details, like cost, meeting room needs, food, etc.

Why? This could be the most important question. Why do we need to do this event? Do we really need it? Why is it vital we hold this event?

It is that simple. Answer those five questions, and you are well on your way to an outstanding retreat or conference.

This blog post was run in our old blog back in 2011. I decided to run it again for all of you that need a retreat, but do not have time to come to LEC. Enjoy and may God bless your retreat time.

What is a retreat? When and how can one take a retreat? We often think of two types of retreat. One is the retreat centered on a community of folks coming together for a purpose. An example would be a group of women from a Sunday School class decides to go to a retreat center for a spiritual growth weekend. They plan, make a reservation at the Center, maybe get a guest speaker, and off they go. It is fun. It is uplifting. They all grow closer together and grow in their faith. And they do this at a special place by a lake, or in the mountains called a retreat center.

Then there is the personal retreat. I have done these many times. You make a reservation at a retreat center and go for an alone time with God. I use to pray, walk, read and think at these retreats. Sometimes I met with a spiritual adviser who helped guide me in my time. Personal retreats can be a very valuable time.

However, you do not need to go to some beautiful place for a retreat (although we would love to have you at LEC sometime soon). You can have a retreat anytime you have a few minutes and set the problems of your daily living aside. Then you can reflect, talk with God, read, and all those other things you do on retreat. Some folks call this devotions. I prefer retreat. The word means to get away from the day – to – day, the pressures of life and to get to safety. To enter the presence of God. If you have 3 minutes, I encourage you to go on a retreat!!

"Be still, and know that IAMGod; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

Recently I had the privilege and joy of attending a ladies' retreat at the Life Enrichment Center, specifically The Mary Retreat, a "retreat for women who do too much." As per the website description:

"This 24-hour time apart is designed to allow those of us who practice discipleship in the active, doing form -- the "Martha" style -- an opportunity to change roles and sit at Jesus' feet like Mary (Luke 10:38-42). The agenda for this retreat is very simple - step away from the frantic pace to spend time resting and reflecting: an opportunity to "BE" instead of "DO."

And that is exactly what I attempted to do ... spend time resting, reflecting, relaxing, reading, writing, time alone with God.

But then I also found myself sharing thoughts and dreams and desires with precious friends who also came in search of the same thing. We gave each other space to spend time alone, and then we also came together to laugh and play and find our "inner child" again:

it is not so easy to just put yourself at the feet of Jesus and expect Him to meet you there. We depend upon being led there by the worship leaders, the pastors and teachers ... or by being the leaders who are expected to "perform" in a certain way at all times so that others may be taught and brought to a place of worship and praise. We sometimes neglect our own personal spiritual growth. We do what we believe we are supposed to do for others and forget that in order to be able to lead others we must also do what we are supposed to do for ourselves.

That's what happened to Martha (read Luke 10:38-42). She was so busy tending to the needs of others that she resented her sister Mary, who had discovered the joy of sitting at the feet of Jesus and growing in grace and truth. Martha was a good person, doing what seemed necessary, but her own personal spiritual growth was lagging behind. She was missing out on the joy of serving her Lord because it had become a job...and not an act of worship and love. She became all "knotted up", like this tree; unable to let go of her sense of duty.

She needed this masseuse to knead away the knots in her mind and body and soul ... like I did: Martha's personal spiritual well was drying up and she was becoming dehydrated. She needed to learn to take time to draw from the fountain of the living water of Jesus...and to become revived, refreshed, and renewed. That is why I went to this particular retreat. I needed to draw from the well of quiet, peace, and restoration. To sit by the water and be inspired from God's Word as He led me to the verse above, "Be STILL and KNOW that I AM God!"

All too soon the time came to leave ... and we parted knowing that somehow we were changed inside. The time of rest was accomplishing its task ... restoring, renewing and refreshing us for the days and tasks ahead.

The great news is, the Life Enrichment Center is planning another “Mary Retreat” in the Spring of 2014. I know I am planning to attend and perhaps take a few more friends with me. Maybe I’ll see YOU there too!

Having spent over thirty years serving alongside her pastor husband, Pam is no stranger to the needs of busy people needing to have a time set apart for rest, recuperation … and retreat! That’s why the ministry of the Life Enrichment Center is very close to her heart. As a matter of fact, Pam’s very first ministry assignment was as a Youth Counselor at the Warren W. Willis Camp! Currently Pam is the Business Administrator for the First Presbyterian Church of Ocala, FL. She also writes an inspirational blog, “Closed Doors, Open Windows," which can be found at http://pamelasopenwindow.blogspot.com

We at the Life Enrichment Retreat Center want to be a help to your spiritual growth while you are here on a retreat, but also at all times. We do this with our Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/lecretreats) and website. We also have a dream of providing an outstanding blog that provides important information along with inspiration. We vision this blog having written and video opportunities for you to grow in your faith.

Here is the problem. We are a small staff, with too much to do. So, we are reaching out to you, the ones who would like to write for the LEC Blog. We need folks who will be willing to write devotions, thought provoking articles on faith, church, retreats, life and more. If you do this and sumbit them, we will review them and publish those we feel would fit for the ministry of the Center.

If we run your work, we will thank you with an opportunity to spend a couple of nights in our retreat cabin for your own rest and renewal.

If you are interested, please send us your email at lecretreats@gmail.com, or comment below and we will get the author guidelines out to you right away. Think about it. Pray about it. Then boot up that computer and start creating.